Video Explorations
Spring 2008

Course Purpose
This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of video capturing and editing using digital technology. This class covers the process of planning short movie projects using tools such as a storyboard. Students will learn and practice creative shot techniques using digital camcorders. We’ll also cover basic editing techniques using iMovie video editing software. Using iMovie, students will learn to add video, still pictures, text, sound and other special effects to movie projects. This class is intended to be a stepping stone to our
8th grade Digital Media Production class.

This course is open to all grade students. Due to the popularity of this class, enrollment is limited to 12 students per quarter. If a student enrolls in the class, he/she may not drop the class during the course of the semester.

Class Grading:
This course is graded on a “Pass-Fail” basis. You’ll receive a “Pass” or “Fail” grade on your Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 report card. Each quarter we will work on 3-5 video editing projects. We will also have a few short quizzes each quarter. Projects will be graded with the simple Check-Plus, Check, and Check-Minus system. A rubric will be passed out for each project so you are clear on the assignment expectations.

In order to receive a passing grade for the quarter, you may only receive one check-minus per quarter
Be Prepared!

-Come to class on time! We only meet twice during each six day cycle, so you need to be on time for class
-All handouts for this class will be distributed electronically. You are responsible for keeping all of these handouts in your class wiki at wikispaces.com.
-If you regularly come to class unprepared/late, you will receive a deduction on your current project grade. An example of a deduction would be lowering your project grade from a Check to a check-minus.

Materials:**
Please have a pocket folder and pencil for this class. We will periodically use pre-production planning materials such as storyboards and written scripts and you'll need a place to store these papers.